Herbal Treatments for the Common Cold

The Common Cold

The common cold is a viral infection of the nose, sinuses, and throat.

Causes of the Common Cold

The virus is most often transferred through physical contact. For example,
a person's hand may come in contact with the nasal secretions of an
individual who has a cold. If that person then touches his or her eyes,
nose, or mouth the virus is able to enter the body. One can also catch a
cold if they breathe in air that contains globules that were coughed out or
sneezed up by an infected individual, but this is less common. Colds are
most contagious in the first couple of days after symptoms develop.

Symptoms of a the Common Cold

The first symptom is usually an uncomfortable sensation in the nose or
throat.

Then the nose starts running and the person starts sneezing.

The secretions from the nose are usually very watery, clear, and plentiful at
first and then become more viscous, yellow-green in color, and less
plentiful.

The sinuses often become congested.

A cough and/or sore throat may develop.

A mild fever may occur at the onset of the illness, although this is not very
common.

Asthma attacks can occur in individuals that suffer from asthma.

Bacterial infections may develop in the middle ear, sinuses, or lower
airways.

Herbal Treatments for the Common Cold

Echinacea (E. angustifolia, E. purpurea, E. pallida)

Scientific Evidence from Clinical Trials

A randomized double-blind controlled study involving 246 individuals
compared the efficacy of two separate Echinacea purpurea preparations
made from 95% herb and 5% root to a placebo. The participants started
taking the Echinacea purpurea preparation or the placebo as soon as the
first symptoms of the common cold arose. They continued taking the study
medication until their symptoms subsided or for a maximum of 7 days. It
was found that the symptoms experienced by the groups taking an
Echinacea purpurea preparations were milder than those experienced by
the placebo group (Brinkeborn et al. 1999).

A multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 263
patients suffering from the common cold reported that the group taking a
product containing Echinacea, Baptisia tinctoria, and Thuja occidentalis
three times per day for 7 to 9 days had much milder symptoms than those
taking the placebo (Henneicke-von Zepelin et al. 1999).

References

Brinkeborn, R., D. Shan, F. Degenring. 1999 "Echinaforce and other
Echinacea fresh plant preparations in the treatment of the common cold. A
randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind clinical trial."
Phytomedicine. 6(1):1-6.

Henneicke-von Zepelin, H., C. Hentschel, J. Schnitker, R. Kohnen, G.
Kohler, P. Wustenberg. 1999. "Efficacy and safety of a fixed combination
phytomedicine in the treatment of the common cold (acute viral respiratory
tract infection): results of a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled,
multicenter study." Current Medical Research Options. 15(3):214-27.